Panera Franchisee Helps Out Teens
The central Florida Panera franchisee is partnering with the Foundation For Foster Children to train and hire local foster youth.
Panera will train and employ foster youths who want a job and more than 30 teens have already expressing in interest.
Winter park residents Annette and Gavin Ford own 53 Panera franchises in Florida, including 21 in central Florida. The Fords’ 21 central Florida Panera restaurants employ about 1,600 individuals with 2008 revenues of $64.5 million dollars.
Annette Ford, who also sits on the board of directors for new hope for kids and the Orlando Regional Healthcare Foundation, said her business looks for quality employees with a willingness to do their best.
Many foster youth are looking for an employer to believe in them and give them a start and her company is willing to invest its time into these youth, she said.
